Tennessee · Senate Bill 537 · 113th General Assembly

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 36 and Title 37, relative to parental rights.

SB 537 Sponsored by Ferrell Haile Became law

  1. Introduced Jan 25, 2023
  2. In committee Jan 30, 2023
  3. Passed the Senate Apr 6, 2023
  4. Passed the House Apr 10, 2023
  5. To the governor Apr 13, 2023
  6. Became law Apr 25, 2023

What it does

The legislature's own summary of the bill, or its official long title.

Adoption - As enacted, adds to the grounds upon which initiation of termination of parental or guardianship rights may be based that the parent has been confined in a correctional or detention facility of any type, by order of the court as a result of one or more criminal acts, under a sentence of six or more years, and one or more other grounds in current law exists. - Amends TCA Title 36 and Title 37.

Every action

31 steps, oldest first, as the legislature records them.

Show the 23 earlier steps
  1. SenateFiled for introduction
  2. SenateIntroduced, Passed on First Consideration
  3. CommitteePassed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee · Senate Judiciary Committee
  4. SenateSponsor(s) Added.
  5. SenateSponsor(s) Added.
  6. CommitteePlaced on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/13/2023 · Senate Judiciary Committee
  7. SenateAction deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 3/14/2023
  8. CommitteePlaced on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/14/2023 · Senate Judiciary Committee
  9. SenateAction deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 3/21/2023
  10. CommitteePlaced on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/21/2023 · Senate Judiciary Committee
  11. SenateAction deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 3/22/2023
  12. CommitteePlaced on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/22/2023 · Senate Judiciary Committee
  13. SenateAction deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 3/28/2023
  14. CommitteePlaced on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/28/2023 · Senate Judiciary Committee
  15. CommitteeRecommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 7, Nays 2 PNV 0 · Senate Calendar Committee
  16. SenatePlaced on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/6/2023
  17. SenateSenate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0362)
  18. SenatePassed Senate as amended, Ayes 24, Nays 7
  19. SenateSponsor(s) Added.
  20. SenateEngrossed; ready for transmission to House
  21. HouseRcvd. from S., held on H. desk.
  22. HouseSubst. for comp. HB.
  23. HouseAm. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0165)
  1. HousePassed H., Ayes 77, Nays 15, PNV 0
  2. SenateEnrolled and ready for signatures
  3. SenateSigned by Senate Speaker
  4. HouseSigned by H. Speaker
  5. SenateTransmitted to Governor for action.
  6. SenateSigned by Governor.
  7. Secretary of StatePub. Ch. 219
  8. GovernorEffective date(s) 07/01/2023

Roll calls

3 recorded votes: 2 on the floor, 1 in committee. Each shows how every member voted.

as Amended Third Consideration · Full Senate

Passed 24–7
Apr 6, 2023 · journal entry
Yes 24 No 7
Democrats: 0 yes, 5 no Republicans: 24 yes, 2 no
How each member voted

Yes · 24

No · 7

REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION · Full House

Passed 77–15
Apr 10, 2023 · journal entry
Yes 77 No 15
Party not listed: 1 yes, 0 no Democrats: 8 yes, 14 no Republicans: 68 yes, 1 no
How each member voted

Yes · 77

No · 15

Committee and other votes

DateWhereQuestionResult
Mar 28, 2023 Senate Judiciary Committee Judiciary Committee: Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 7, Nays 2 PNV 0
Members

Yes · 7

No · 2

 Passed 7–2

Sponsors

The member who introduced it, joined by 3 cosponsors: 3 Republicans.

All 3 cosponsors

From Tennessee's official records (wapp.capitol.tn.gov), checked Nov 3, 2026. Text links go to the official versions; LegiList does not copy bill text.